I'm cleared of lying - Met chief

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has said that a report into the aftermath of the shooting of an innocent man clears him of lying.

Sir Ian said the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation exonerated him of misleading the public over the death of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Speaking at New Scotland Yard, he said: "Speaking personally, I have always made it clear that it was never my intention to mislead and, that if I had lied, I would not be fit to hold this office. I did not lie."

Sir Ian admitted some press statements were "partially inaccurate" and apologised for the mistakes.

He said one of the most damaging aspects of his force's response was its failure to correct misinformation about Mr de Menezes.

He said: "I believe that public confidence was damaged when statements, for instance, about Mr de Menezes' behaviour and clothing were revealed to be inaccurate, largely by a leak rather than by official clarification."

Sir Ian said the report criticised him for being "almost totally uninformed" but he said his duty was to the overall safety of London.

He said: "As far as the shot man was concerned, I knew my officers were conducting inquiries expeditiously, I knew that identification was going to be really difficult but dreadful as it was, this matter was only one of my concerns.

"I neither believe that my senior colleagues let me down nor that my position was unreasonable."